# Merge Explorer vs Halo AR

The clearest difference is rating: Halo AR at 4.6 against Merge Explorer's 4.1. Halo AR also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 46%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Merge Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Halo AR sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Halo AR holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 279 and 369 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Merge Explorer's written reviews are positive against 70% of Halo AR's.

Merge Explorer ships an update monthly, Halo AR fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Merge Explorer | Halo AR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (279 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606/reviews) | **[4.6 (369 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halo-ar-3d-experience-maker/id1534359793/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 279 | **369** |
| Positive reviews | 46.2% of reviews | **70.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1.3 GB | 272 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Merge Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253049593) | [LightUp](https://appshunter.io/developer/817956892) |

## What reviewers say

### Merge Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-explorer/id1453098606)

Explore over 100 interactive science simulations using a smartphone and a Merge Cube. Investigate volcanoes, sharks, the solar system, and more with hands-on activities and quizzes. Ideal for K-8 students learning science at school or home.

**Highlights:** Over 100 science simulations, Interactive Merge Cube experiences, Hands-on learning activities, Built-in quizzes, NGSS-aligned K-8 curriculum, Physical, Life, and Earth/Space Science topics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Merge EDU Individual | $9.99 | per month |
| Explorer Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Merge EDU Individual | $99.99 | per year |
| Explorer Premium Annual | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy for young students
- 💡 Flexible for lesson needs
- 🔬 Used for research and experiments
- 💡 Introduces new content exploratorily
- 🤩 Engaging and versatile for learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive purchase
- 💰 Forced subscription for software
- 💰 Cannot view software before paying
- 💰 Money trap
- 💰 Only for rich people

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iPad
- App crashes when pressing play
- Camera not working in app
- Black screen when using cube or camera
- VR function broken

**Requested features**

- Make the app free to play
- Add more fun things, not just learning
- Bring back the fun apps (time bomb, block courses)
- Allow users to create their own games for the merge cube
- Add a way to reset quizzes for class sets of devices


### Halo AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halo-ar-3d-experience-maker/id1534359793)

Easily create and share interactive 3D augmented reality experiences without coding. Bring your ideas to life by scanning objects, uploading content, and attaching AR to real-world locations or images. Ideal for educators, artists, and businesses.

**Highlights:** Instant AR creation, No coding required, 3D object and image recognition, Attach AR to real-world objects/locations, Easy sharing and collaboration, Immersive AR lessons

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Creator Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Creator Pro (Annual) | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to create AR experiences
- 👍 Simple for others to view
- 💡 Great for educational purposes
- 👍 Free version has good features
- 💡 Innovative mixed reality features coming

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App won't open after update
- 🐛 App won't open
- 🐛 Download takes 6 hours
- 🐛 Useless download
- 🐛 Cannot rescan anything

**Reported bugs**

- App won't open
- App won't open after update
- Cannot rescan anything
- Overheats phone
- Requires following users to see results

**Requested features**

- Evolving the app further
- Clearer instructions for educational use
- Ability to download own images from Google
- Ability to create own images
- Integrating Sketchfab models more easily


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Merge Explorer free?

Merge Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Halo AR free?

Halo AR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Merge Explorer or Halo AR?

Halo AR is rated higher. Merge Explorer averages 4.1 out of 5 from 279 ratings, while Halo AR averages 4.6 from 369 ratings.

### Do Merge Explorer or Halo AR have ads?

Neither Merge Explorer nor Halo AR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Merge Explorer or Halo AR?

Merge Explorer ships an update monthly, and Halo AR fortnightly. Most recently, Merge Explorer was updated on November 2, 2026 and Halo AR on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*